- The film starred a primarily Asian cast
- It is based on a book.
I hadn’t even watched a trailer.
Seeing this film was an example of that Comic Con Magic we talk about where we sit through a panel expecting to be bored and end up being TOTALLY excited about the film or tv show we’re learning about. I expected to be entertained, my tastes aren’t too high-brow (I saw Twilight 6 times in the theaters, you know) but I was BLOWN AWAY..
Crazy Rich Asians is amazing! Let me tell you why:
All Asian Cast
Forget “Mostly” Asian cast, this was an ALL-Asian cast. From familiar faces like Constance Wu (Fresh off the Boat), Gemma Chan (Humans), Jimmy O. Yang (Jian Yang from Silicon Valley), Ken Jeong (from Hangover, you remember his penis) to a bunch of newcomers I can’t wait to see more of, this film was FULL of an amazing cast of actors with very few white faces in sight. In fact, in the few instances I DID notice a ‘white, non-asian’ character, they seemed to play a servant role. Either with a tray at a party, or a background player or singer in the band. The focus was on the Asian cast, and it was refreshing to see a film like this!
The Story
Crazy Rich Asians follows the story of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and Nick Young (Henry Golding- more on him next). This couple met in NYC where Rachel is a professor at NYC and Nick is…. just a normal guy who goes to the sketchy (but cheap) YMCA in Queens to work out. Or so Rachel thinks.
Early on in the film you find out that Nick is rich. Really rich. And Nick and Rachel take a trip to Singapore, where Nick grew up, to meet his friends and family. Rachel quickly learns that Nick Young is “royalty” in Singapore, and her boyfriend is one of the county’s most eligible bachelors. Rachel has to fight for her place in Nick’s life among his friends, his family, and most importantly, his mother.
And it’s fun ride to watch!
Based on the book by Kevin Kwan of the same name, there are 2 more books in the series, and there is no way I’m not reading them immediately to find out what happens NEXT.
This hot guy
Of course you don’t think I’d love this movie this much if the leading man wasn’t smoking hot, right?
RIGHT.
Let me introduce you to Henry Golding:
Yowza, right? Just wait until you hear his British Accent.
Here are 5 things I’ve learned about Henry since I stalked him did the hard work of research for you guys:
1) That IS a wedding ring you see on his finger. Henry has been married to Liv Lo since 2006, and here is a photo collage of them in bed plus a corresponding article if you want to feel bad about yourself:
2) Henry Golding is half-Malaysian Iban and half English. I know I said this film had an all-Asian cast, but after I wrote that I read a lot about the controversy surrounding his casting. There were people in the Asian community who were very upset that Henry is half white (most notably Jamie Chung, who wasn’t cast because the producers wanted to cast characters with Chinese-heritage and she is Korean) Read about what she said here. But the controversy died down and the producers, director and cast have been very outspoken of their support for Henry to play Nick Young as he was the perfect person for the role. Lesson learned: He has a sexy AF British accent.
3) He is 31, a trained hairdresser and is based in Malaysia and Singapore.
I have nothing more to say about that, but I thought you should know he knows how to do hair.
4) Crazy Rich Asians is his first movie. I was SHOCKED to read this. Henry has experience on TV as the host of a show called 8tv Quickie (???) and as the presenter on The Travel Show on the BBC.
Since filming Crazy Rich Asians, Henry has starred in A Simple Favor as Blake’s Lively’s husband (out this September), and he stars in Monsoon out in 2019.
5) He smiles like this:
Asian Ellen
One of the best characters we meet in Crazy Rich Asians is Rachel’s friend from college, who lives in Singapore, Goh Peik Lin. Her family calls her the “Asian Ellen” (I assume because she had short, blonde hair).
Played by an actress named Awkwafina, she was so hilarious and one of those crazy-out of control characters that somehow brought both chaos and calm to the situations she was involved in.
Rachel Chu
I am not family with Off the Boat, so Constance Wu was new to me, and I fell in love. Constance played the lead character, Rachel Chu, and was just so confident and lovable and exciting to watch. Seeing this NYC-raised girl, daughter of a single Chinese mother, who put herself through school and is in love with her position at NYU, fall in love with a guy she thinks is just an average hottie in NYC with a British accent, learn how to navigate the life of the rich, famous and fabulous in Singapore, was amazing! And I want the next two films to be made so I can see how she turns out!
Hilarious Supporting Cast
From “Jing Yang” from Silicon Valley (played by Jimmy O’ Yang’, who goes by “That funny Asian Dude” online, to Ken Jeong, to Gemma Chan, there was so much happening in this film within the storylines of the supporting cast. Gemma’s storyline was not funny, but she played her character with class and grace and pulled out a really emotional role in a film full of mostly funny ones. Other than hers, the movie had me laughing at almost every moment.
Singapore
Singapore has never been a place I’ve been interested in visiting. NOT ANYMORE. I realize that the Singapore of the movie is one of a rich, crazy lifestyle, but the city was prominently on display in this movie and was gorgeous!
From their architecture to the food to the views of the ocean, I want to know everything about this cosmopolitan city.
Crazy Rich Asians is out every on August 15th. GO SEE IT! I want the sequels to get green lit!
This movie is incredible for the Asian film community and was heartwarming, funny and just plain good. Go SEE IT!
(ONE MORE.. You’re welcome!)
